Easy Iced Matcha Gingerade (Single-Serve Mocktail)
Most mornings, at least on the weekdays, you’ll catch me whisking together a little matcha, pouring it over ice (or dropping the ice in, which isn’t as classy, but I do what I want), and topping it with a little almond milk. For someone who has never been a coffee drinker, my first true experience with a caffeine boost came from matcha, and let me tell ya, the pick-me-up is realllll.
With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, I wanted to try making a fun green drink with no alcohol in it – et voila, matcha was the perfect go-to. As a lemonade lover, especially with the warmer temps coming in March, combining the two with a little ginger beer to make a fun and unintentionally healthy-ish drink, made for the perfect solution.
Plus, if you’re drinking this on St. Patrick’s Day, you can’t get pinched – because your clothes extend to what’s in your hand. If that’s not a rule, it is now. This also includes what you’re eating, so go ahead and no-bake up this Easy Pistachio Dessert and, for dinner, this Spinach and Mushroom Chicken Pot Pie.
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WHAT IS MATCHA?
Matcha is a powder made from high-quality, finely ground green tea leaves. It’s very concentrated, so it’s not recommended to consume more than 2-4 grams per day, but it is antioxidant-rich and packed with numerous health benefits. Unlike steeping green tea leaves and tossing them after, matcha is made from grinding the entire tea leaf, which you whisk in with some hot water and consume for all of those added benefits. The tea leaves for matcha are grown in the shade, contributing to its vibrant green color since growing “under cover” boosts chlorophyll production in the leaves. This also contributes to its unique flavor! Japanese matcha is considered the highest quality and is the primary producer of matcha.
How do you whisk matcha? Once you combine your matcha and hot (not boiling!) water in a bowl, traditionally you use a bamboo whisk (but if you don’t have one, that’s ok) and move your wrist in a “W” or “M” motion with the whisk against the bottom of the bowl. Move your wrist back and forth in quick movements until it starts to froth.
INGREDIENTS
- Matcha Powder: Gives color, flavor, and many health benefits
- Hot Water: For mixing your matcha and melting your honey
- Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness, though you can omit if preferred or swap for agave or maple syrup
- Lemon: The juice gives that delicious lemonade vibe. Cut a few slices for garnish on the rim of your glass
- Ginger Beer: Gives a spicy-sweet fizz
- Ice cubes: Now is the time to use those fun ice cube trays! I used these from World Market
Health benefits of matcha: These finely ground tea leaves come with loads of health benefits. It’s rich in antioxidant properties and has been shown to boost your cognitive, immune, and liver function, among many other benefits.
HOW TO MAKE AN ICED MATCHA GINGERADE FOR ONE
Start by heating up some water. You want it to be hot but not boiling, as boiling water can burn the tea leaves and give you a bitter taste while also potentially killing some of the beneficial nutrients the drink provides.
In a small bowl, add your matcha powder and pour in your hot water. To combine, move your whisk in a “W” or “M” movement (literally move it like you’re tracing the letter on the base of your bowl) until your liquid becomes a little frothy. Add in your honey and repeat the whisking movements.
Grab your drinking glass and pour in your freshly squeezed lemon juice (or squeeze it in directly), then drop in your ice. Pour your matcha liquid over the ice, top with your fizzy ginger beer, stir, and enjoy! Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon or ginger.
3 reasons you’ll love this drink
TIPS & VARIATIONS
- If you prefer a different sweetener, agave or maple syrup are great options. Add in at the same time you would add in the honey, so it can melt in with the (light) heat from the matcha
- The ginger beer gives both fizz and flavor, but if you’d prefer a different option, you can swap for your favorite bubbly drink
- Grab some fun ice cube trays, and freeze your water in the molds the day before. This makes for a drink that’s as cute as it is delicious!
- If you want to make a bigger batch, simply multiply the below ingredients by however many you’re looking to serve.
MAKING AHEAD & STORING
I wouldn’t prep this drink too far in advance, as matcha tends to separate the longer it sits. If you do prep in advance, hold off on adding the ginger beer until you are ready to drink; otherwise, you will lose the fizz the longer it sits.
MORE SINGLE-SERVE DRINK RECIPES
Have some citrus to use up? Try this Quick Winter Citrus Spritz filled with orange, grapefruit, and fresh ginger. If you prefer a warm beverage packed with nutrients, this 10-Minute Golden Turmeric Tea is perfect for you.
Equipment
- Bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Spoons
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2-4 tbsp ginger beer cold
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices garnish
Instructions
- Add your matcha powder to a small bowl and pour in your hot water. Whisk in a “W” motion along the bottom of the bowl until combined and a little frothy
- Squeeze in your honey to the matcha and whisk
- In your glass, add your fresh lemon juice and your ice
- Pour your matcha liquid over the ice and top with ginger beer; give a brief stir
- Garnish with a slice of lemon, and enjoy!
